Trail to Tomorrow, Grand Lake Stream

Part of the Downeast Lakes Community Forest’s ~57,000 acres, this 0.6-mile loop in the woods is close to Grand Lake Stream and the small community nestled around the dam. The trail has several interpretative panels explaining the local ecology. While you can hear the stream and see it through the tree leaves, the trail does not include stream access.

The trail is named after a 1957 essay by John R. Schaefer in which he argues for the importance of environmental education for teachers. “It was his hope and vision that this knowledge and respect for the natural world would be passed on to the next generation of conservation stewards,” according to Downeast Lakes Land Trust. Stephen Schaefer, his son, is a founding Board Member of the region’s land trust.

Directions: There is no parking at the trailhead. You can park a vehicle at the Grand Lake Stream dam at the end of Shaw Street, about 0.5 miles away from the trail. Walk back along Shaw Street and cross the road to meander down Tough End Street. Walk the length of the dead-end road until you see the trail sign, leading you into the woods.